Bradyphenia, another one of those medical terms that we will hear thanks to this diagnosis of PD, simply means slow thinking. It refers to the fact that my husband can still process thoughts, it just takes longer for the signals to move through his brain and some of the details may get lost along the way. This slowness can impact how he does things and will cause difficulties as he tries to interact with the fast-paced world around us.

His slower reactions are frustrating and I often find myself waiting for him or doing things myself to get them done. My frustration also shows when I attempt to finish his sentences for him or when I take over in all transactions with others outside of our home. It is not a matter of “if you want it done right, do it yourself”, because he still has the capabilities for most of the tasks. Instead, it is more a matter of “if you want it done quickly, do it yourself”.

I need to remember that the slowness that is reflected in his body also exists in his brain forcing him to carefully process every move he makes. The knowledge is still there, it is the connections in his retrieval systems that are going haywire. There are a couple of things that I can do to help him. First, I can be a buffer to the world allowing him the time he needs. And, second, I can give him the time and respect he deserves because I know his journey is so much harder than mine.